Alliance One Receives Golden Leaf Award for Most Impressive Public Service Initiative
MORRISVILLE, N.C., July 10, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- On June 15, 2012, Alliance One International, Inc. (NYSE: AOI) received a Golden Leaf Award in the Most Impressive Public Service Initiative sector at the Global Tobacco Networking Forum in Antwerp, Belgium, which was sponsored by Tobacco Reporter magazine and Indonesian cigarette paper manufacturer PT Bukit Muria Jaya (BMJ). Alliance One received the award for its efforts following Hurricane Irene to provide an outlet for tobaccos produced by U.S. flue-cured growers initially contracted to but subsequently released by United States Growers Direct.
Mark W. Kehaya, Chairman of the Board of Directors and Interim Chief Executive Officer, said, "It's a real honor to receive the Golden Leaf Award. Since North Carolina is our home, we were pleased to have been able to respond rapidly, as many of the farmers affected by the hurricane were in our own region. We remain committed to worldwide farmer sustainability and to the North American market."
Roy Harrington, president of RC Commodities, Inc., a grower representative said, "Alliance One's support prevented what could have been a disastrous outcome for numerous farmers and their families. This shows the company's devotion to the U.S. farmer, which reinforces and secures their sustainability in the U.S. tobacco market."
J. Pieter Sikkel, Alliance One's President, commented, "As the largest processor of North American tobaccos, we remain proudly committed to the U.S. farmer and are honored to receive this prestigious award."
Alliance One International is a leading independent leaf tobacco merchant serving the world's cigarette manufacturers. For more information on Alliance One, visit the Company's website at www.aointl.com.
SOURCE Alliance One International, Inc.
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